Privacy and the database state in the news

Nick Hopkins and Jake Morris report on the BBC News website that Police forces in England and Wales have uploaded up to 18 million “mugshots” to a facial recognition database, without Home Office approval and despite a court ruling that it could be unlawful.

In addition, the photos of hundreds of thousands of innocent people could be on the database according to the Alastair MacGregor QC the Biometrics Commissioner, who admitted during an interview on the BBC Newsnight programme, that the Police had not informed him about the image uploads.

There are now calls for the database to be properly regulated to ensure the privacy and civil liberties aspects are addressed.

David Davis MP, the former Conservative shadow Home Secretary said:

“Police always want more powers, but I’m afraid the courts and parliament say there are limits. You cannot treat innocent people the same way you treat guilty people.”